六
six
liù
What does 六 mean?
六 (liù) is the Chinese number 'six' — used in counting, telling time (六点 liù diǎn, 6 o'clock), dates (六月 liùyuè, June; 六号 liù hào, the 6th), and prices. Culturally, 六 is a lucky number in Mandarin because it ties to the phrase 六六大顺 (liù liù dà shùn), 'may everything go smoothly,' so 66, 666, and 6666 yuan are common gift amounts in red envelopes.
In modern internet slang, 666 means 'awesome / amazing skill,' borrowed from gaming. Two notes for English speakers: first, the tone is fourth (sharp, falling) — distinct from 流 liú ('to flow') or 楼 lóu ('floor / building'); second, the formal anti-fraud check variant is 陆 (lù), the same character that elsewhere means 'land / continent.'
Character breakdown
six; the digit 6
Memory hook: 六 looks like a small roof with two legs — imagine a tiny six-sided shed.
Example sentences
我六点起床。
Wǒ liù diǎn qǐ chuáng.
I get up at six o'clock.
neutral
今天是星期六。
Jīntiān shì xīngqīliù.
Today is Saturday.
spoken
我家有六个人。
Wǒ jiā yǒu liù ge rén.
There are six people in my family.
neutral
他六岁了。
Tā liù suì le.
He is six years old now.
spoken
Common phrases with 六
Synonyms
陆 is the formal anti-fraud variant of 六 used on checks and official documents. In everyday writing always use 六. (Note: 陆 read as lù elsewhere means 'land' as in 大陆 mainland.)
Don't confuse 六 with
大 ('big') and 六 ('six') share a similar top-stroke + two-legs visual shape. Beginners frequently miscopy one as the other. 六 has a flat top with two short slanting legs; 大 is wider and looks like a person with outstretched arms.
FAQ
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